Scraper chain conveyors

ABSTRACT

A scraper chain conveyor with an assembly composed of two centrally disposed chains interconnected at intervals with scraper elements and locking brackets. Each scraper element is tapered in cross-section and has a recess through which the chains extend and the underside of the central portion of the element overlying the recess has shaped compartments receiving horizontal links of the chains and depending lugs extending through these links. The lateral ends of the recess are bounded by apertured webs which mate with apertured end portions of the associated bracket which is disposed beneath the chains. The end portions of the bracket are offset in relation to the remainder of the bracket and have recessed parts which accommodate the heads of the connecting bolts extending through the apertures so as to prevent rotation of the bolts.

D United States Patent [151 3,653,492

Temme [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] SCRAPER CHAIN CONVEYORS Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka [72] inventor. HelmutTemme,1m Erckel, Germany Attorney sughrue Rothwen, Mien Zinn & Macpeak [73] Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia,

Wethman near Lunen. Westfalia. Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1971 A scraper chain conveyor with an assembly composed of two centrally disposed chains interconnected at intervals with [2 [1 Appl 1046l6 scraper elements and locking brackets. Each scraper element is tapered in cross-section and has a recess through which the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data chains extend and the underside of the central portion of the element overlying the recess has shaped compartments receiv- June 1970 Germany 20 31 874's ing horizontal links of the chains and depending lugs extending through these links. The lateral ends of the recess are C(Ill bounded by aperture! webs which mate with apertured end 58] 5 5 1 195 portions of the associated bracket which is disposed beneath the chains. The end portions of the bracket are offset in relation to the remainder of the bracket and have recessed parts w 1c accommo atet e ea s o t e connectm 0 ts exten [56] References Cited h d h h d f h g b l d UNITED STATES PATENTS ing through the apertures so as to prevent rotation of the bolts.

3,587,831 6/1971 Temme 198/176 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A 'l 24 2 5 l- 12' 9 1 9 .l il' ill" 1 i J a '1 l Patented April 4, 1972 3,653,492

' 2 Shah-Shut 2 11' 14 F G 5 14 11 I 1 E i -1-+---1----.- -1- #11? e 15 16 t 6 16 t 16 INVENTOR ATTORNEY SCRAPER CHAIN CONVEYORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A known scraper chain conveyor has two chains running side-by-side at the center of the channel sections and interconnected with scraper elements. Each scraper element is provided with transverse] recesses which are open towards the center of the conveyor and which receive the eyelets at the ends of a locking bracket, secured in position by means of connecting bolts. This arrangement is generally found to be disadvantageous. For example, the actual connection of the scraper elements to the brackets is inferior and the chains are apt to become displaced from the desired position.

Moreover, conveyed material is liable to get jammed between the heads of the connecting bolts and the floor of the conveyor. As a result, the scraper elements tend to be lifted off the floor and can engage against the lower surface of the upper flange of the side walls of the channel sections thus resulting in undue wear.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved assembly for use in scraper chain conveyors.

A further object is to produce a simple, inexpensive and reliable conveyor construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an assembly for use in scraper chain conveyors, said assembly comprising two oval-link chains interconnected at intervals by means of scraper elements, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at the upper side by a central portion formed with shaped compartments receiving horizontally-disposed links of the chains and lugs which extend into said horizontally-disposed links, and brackets each detachably connected to one of the scraper elements to extend beneath the chains.

Further according to the invention there is provided a scraperchain conveyor comprising a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, two oval-link chains disposed at the centre of said channel sections and interconnected at intervals with scraper elements, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at the upper side by a central portion formed with shaped compartments receiving horizontally-disposed links of the chains and lugs which extend into said horizontally-disposed links, and brackets each detachably connected to one of the scraper elements to extend beneath the chains.

In a preferred construction each of the scraper elements has apertured webs at the outer sides of the recess, and the associated bracket has apertured end portions engageable with the webs so that connecting bolts can extend through the aligned apertures of said webs and end portions.

Eachend portion of the bracket can conveniently have a recessed part which can receive the head of one of said connecting bolts in such a manner as to prevent the bolt from rotating. The depth of the recessed part can then correspond to the depth of the head of the associated connecting bolt. Thereby, not only is the connecting bolt reliably prevented from becoming loose but hard material is precluded from becoming jammed between the head of the bolt and the floor of the conveyor.

The end portions of the brackets are preferably outwardly offset relative to the remaining central portion of the bracket to face the intended conveying direction.

The shaped compartments of the central portion of each scraper element can be separated by a narrow web cut away at its ends to allow the passage of a double sprocket wheel for driving the chains.

This narrow web allows the chains to be positioned accurately and very close together and in turn the double sprocket wheel can engage accurately between the adjacent vertical chain links and support itself on the horizontal chain links.

Each scraper element preferably tapers in cross-section away from the conveying direction. This also prevents the scraper elements from being lifted off the floor of the conveyor.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other features of the invention may become more apparent, from consideration of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A constructional embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of an assembly made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-B of FIG. 1, with the floor of the associated conveyor channel section being additionally indicated;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the scraper elements of the assembly the view being taken in the direction opposite to that of the general conveying direction;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the brackets of the assembly, the view also being taken in the direction opposite to that of the general conveying direction;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The assembly depicted in the drawings is composed of chains 7, scraper elements 1 and locking brackets 6. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, the assembly has two centrally-disposed chains 7, each composed of oval links 2, 2'. The chains 7 are connected together at intervals with the scraper elements 1 which extend transversely to the chains 7. As is known, the chains 7 are moved along the adjoining floors of separate conveyor channel sections so that mineral is pushed along the floors by means of the scraper elements 1. As can be seen in FIG. 3, each scraper element 1 has a recess 3 beneath its central portion into which projects two depending lugs 4 and 4 which engage in horizontal links 5 and 5 of the chains 7.

The underside of the central portion of the scraper element 1 is also provided with shaped compartments 22 and 22 which receive the horizontal chain links 5 and 5' and which thereby determine the distance a between the chains 7. Between the compartments 22, 22 a narrow web 24 is provided which has cut-away ends 23 and 23' which accommodate the passage of double sprocket wheel (not shown) used for driving the chains 7.

At the sides of the recess 3 the scraper element 1 has webs 9 and 9 provided with apertures 13. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the associated bracket 6 has end portions 11, 11 which can engage the webs 9, 9'. The portions 11, 11' of the bracket 6 have apertures 14 which can be aligned with the apertures 13 to receive connecting bolts 12 and 12' as can be seen in FIG. 2. The portions 11,11 are provided, at the faces 15 with recesses 16 serving to accommodate the heads 17 of the bolts 12, 12'. The depth t' (FIG. 5) of the recesses 16 approximately corresponds to the width h of the heads 17 (FIG. 2) and the diameter of each recess 16 is such that it prevents the head 17 received thereby from rotating.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the end portions 11 and 1 l of the bracket 6 are offset from the main central portion of the bracket 6 and disposed forwardly therefrom relative to the conveying direction denoted by the arrow 10 in FIG. 5. The lower edges 18 of the portions 11, 11 form scraping edges which slide along the conveyor floor 8 as shown in FIG. 2.

As may be seen also from FIG. 2, each scraper element 1 tapers in cross-section from the front portion 21 towards the rear at least over part of its length, so that a lower surface 19 forms the free angle A with the upper face of the conveyor channel flow 8 while an upper surface 20 forms a free angle B 1. In an assembly for use in a scraper chain conveyor, said assembly comprising two oval-link chains interconnected by means of scraper elements and locking brackets; the improvement comprising providing shaped compartments in the portion of each scraper element disposed over a central recess through which the chains extend to receive horizontal links of the chains, providing webs in the scraper elements and end portions in the brackets, the webs and end portions being apertured to receive connecting bolts, and providing recessed parts in the end portions to accommodate the heads of the bolts and prevent rotation thereof.

2. An assembly for use in scraper chain conveyors said assembly comprising:

a. two oval-link chains;

b. scraper elements connected to said chains and spaced apart along said chains, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at its upper side by a central portion formed withshaped compartments receiving horizontal links of the chains and formed with lugs extending into said horizontal links, and;

0. locking brackets, each bracket being detachably connected to one of the scraper elements by means of connecting bolts so as to extend beneath the chains.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the scraper elements has apertured webs at the outer sides of the recess, and the associated bracket has apertured end portions engageable with the webs so that the connecting bolts can extend through the aligned apertures of said webs and end portions.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein each end portion of the bracket has a recessed part which can receive the head of one of the connecting bolts, the depth of each of the recessed parts being substantially equal to the depth of the head of the connecting bolt and the width of each of the recessed parts being such as to prevent rotation of said bolt.

5. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the end portions of each of the brackets are outwardly offset relative to the remaining central portion of the bracket therefrom to face the intended conveying direction.

6. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the shaped compartments of the central portion of each scraper element are separated by a narrow web cut away at its ends.

7. A scraper chain conveyor comprising:

a. a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end;

b. two oval link chains disposed at the centre of said channel sections;

c. Scraper elements connected to the chains and spaced apart along said chains, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at the upper side by a central portion formed with shaped compartments receiving horizontal links of the chains and formed with lugs extending into the horizontal links and the recess being bounded at its lateral ends by apertured webs; and

d. locking brackets detachably connected to said scraper elements by means of connecting bolts each locking bracket extending beneath the chains and having apertured end portions mating with the webs of the associated scraper element, the end portions being outwardly offset in the conveying direction relative to the remainder of the bracket and having recessed parts receiving the heads of said connecting bolts.

8. A conveyor according to claim 7, wherein each bracket has a lower surface which slids along the floor of the channel sections.

9. A conveyor according to claim 7, wherein each scraper element tapers in cross-section in the direction away from the conveying direction. 

1. In an assembly for use in a scraper chain conveyor, said assembly comprising two oval-link chains interconnected by means of scraper elements and locking brackets; the improvement comprising providing shaped compartments in the portion of each scraper element disposed over a central recess through which the chains extend to receive horizontal links of the chains, providing webs in the scraper elements and end portions in the brackets, the webs and end portions being apertured to receive connecting bolts, and providing recessed parts in the end portions to accommodate the heads of the bolts and prevent rotation thereof.
 2. An assembly for use in scraper chain conveyors said assembly comprising: a. two oval-link chains; b. scraper elements connected to said chains and spaced apart along said chains, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at its upper side by a central portion formed with shaped compartments receiving horizontal links of the chains and formed with lugs extending into said horizontal links, and; c. locking brackets, each bracket being detachably connected to one of the scraper elements by means of connecting bolts so as to extend beneath the chains.
 3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the scraper elements has apertured webs at the outer sides of the recess, and the associated bracket has apertured end portions engageable with the webs so that the connecting bolts can extend through the aligned apertures of said webs and end portions.
 4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein each end portion of the bracket has a recessed part which can receive the head of one of the connecting bolts, the depth of each of the recessed parts being substantially equal to the depth of the head of the connecting bolt and the width of each of the recessed parts being such as to prevent rotation of said bolt.
 5. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the end portions of each of the brackets are outwardly offset relative to the remaining central portion of the bracket therefrom to face the intended conveying direction.
 6. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the shaped compartments of the central portion of each scraper element are separated by a narrow web cut away at its ends.
 7. A scraper chain conveyor comprising: a. a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end; b. two oval link chains disposed at the centre of said channel sections; c. Scraper elements connected to the chains and spaced apart along said chains, each scraper element having a recess through which the chains extend, the recess being bounded at the upper side by a central portion formed with shaped compartments receiving horizontal links of the chains and formed with lugs extending into the horizontal links and the recess being bounded at its lateral ends by apertured webs; and d. locking brackets detachably cOnnected to said scraper elements by means of connecting bolts each locking bracket extending beneath the chains and having apertured end portions mating with the webs of the associated scraper element, the end portions being outwardly offset in the conveying direction relative to the remainder of the bracket and having recessed parts receiving the heads of said connecting bolts.
 8. A conveyor according to claim 7, wherein each bracket has a lower surface which slids along the floor of the channel sections.
 9. A conveyor according to claim 7, wherein each scraper element tapers in cross-section in the direction away from the conveying direction. 